MY AMANDA...
By: Asekhamhe Vinson Osikpemhi.
As I mature, I have grown to understand
that every day is not the same. Surely everyone has that special day he/she cannot
forget. For some of us there are days we can never forget; for me, Nov. 9th,
2014, is one of those days.
I woke up to a Sunday of expectations going for early morning mass in my
favourite Burberry shirt amidst compliments from numerous admirers- yes I have
numerous admirers. What do you expect from a loyal handsome guy?
However, as a guy I had my hierarchy of female friends. Hence none of
the compliments touched me the way Amanda’s compliment did. Amanda had been my
1st crush in the University, my long time crush. In fact the length
of my crush for her is longer than some people’s relationship. Yet I had
endured. I was comfortable with the fact that She was my crush or I was her
crush, anyway you like it! While people were proud of their girlfriends or
partners, I was proud of my crush.
Her beauty defined my moments; anytime she stood inches close to me, my
spirit knew unending peace and Joy. I was happy for no reason. She had a full
dimple on her right cheek that I have always longed to poke; to dig as if there
my heart lies.
So that morning when she came to me flashing that smile that had once
made me hit my head against a pillar 6 months back, I shivered and comported
myself, adjusting my already adjusted shirt.
“Sweetheart you look good, nice shirt”
“Chai!” I said to myself, blushing codedly.
I wished she meant it when she called me sweetheart. Was it real or just
casual? If it was casual, then she had abused the word because I called her my
sweetheart only when I was alone, during those personal moments when I would
think of her before sleeping.
“Thank You dearie” I said cheerfully, slightly bowing my head.
I couldn’t face her, I was too shy to. That was the different in our “Crush-ship”. While couples had confidence being with their
partners, Amanda’s presence brought sweet uneasiness to me; the type that comes
when you are 2 minutes from winning a football game.
The rest of the day was usual. In school I didn’t follow the normal law
which says; “An Average Nigerian eats
Rice on Sunday.” So after mass I ate the remaining pottage of Saturday
night and laid on my bed listening to gospel jamz waiting for manna to fall.
At about 4pm, I was in a music concert when my phone vibrated. I
shouldn’t have taken the call but the caller wasn’t like other callers- it was
Amanda. I rushed out of the concert hall like one who was pressed, signaling to
the ushers that I was about peeing on my body. She wanted me to accompany her
to the market but I couldn’t. We just arrived at the concert so I couldn’t
leave. She however agreed to get me some Carrot and Onions as I requested.
At about 7pm, she called again. MTN must have wondered why I happily
answered this particular caller. She was back from the market and wanted me to
come and get my “goods”. I came out happily after spraying my favourite
“Happinex Body Spray” with the expectation of receiving a #100 worth of Carrot
and Onions but I was wrong. She presented me a bag filled with fried rice
ingredients and refused to collect a dime.
I was wowed and I immediately gave her a big fat hug without thinking
about it and promised to cook fried rice
that night.
“Hope You’ll eat?” I asked happily.
“Yes” She replied, smiling gently.
That was it, my dream. This was a test of my crush for her. I dashed
immediately to one of the stores at the back gate to get a kilo of chicken.
Even though I was not financially buoyant at that time, I would do anything to
please Amanda.
Beads of sweat filled my eyebrows as I cooked like I was in a cooking
competition. To the surprise of my roommates, I used both corners of the room,
making use of the two stoves.
I employed all the skills I had learnt from home, chopping the carrot
and other ingredients carefully; all to please Amanda.
What else? My room was filled with Aroma as my roommates kept wondering
what occasion the special meal was for.
In no time I was done- Fried rice, chicken and fried plantain. Just what
Amanda liked. I packaged hers in a beautiful flask, one that I seldom used. At
about 9:15pm, I called Amanda telling here I was done cooking and was on my way
to her hostel. But she declined and said she was already full and felling
sleepy.
What??? I pray oooo…. I begged her, convinced her and explained that I
was already done and then she agreed to come out. I arrived her hostel and
called her and she said she was coming. I waited though shy but anxiously happy
to present to Amanda, a sign of my crush and fidelity- a faithful crusher I’ll
become.
After about 15minutes, she sent me a text which read:
“Sweetheart, I’m sorry, I can’t come out again,
I’m tired and no one is willing to follow me out.
I’m sorry, see you tomorrow.
Just ike that??? Funny enough after reading the text, her phone became switched off. NO! NO!!
No!!!, I mumbled as I walked back to my hostel just like Lot without looking
back. I got to my room still with my flask, to the surprise of my roommates who
asked:
“Ah bros wetin happen now?
“Mstcheww:” I hissed.
“Make una chop jare” I angrily and slowly sai as I dropped the flask to
those hngry lions like the ones in the bible that attacked Daniel’s enemies.
How on earth would I forget such a day?
Who dey follow Amanda laff???